Overview

The course covers the physical geography of relevant, topical aspects of coastal processes. In 2017-18 the course will focus on sea-level change. This section will cover an understanding of the processes involved in sea-level change, past, present and future, and the science of reconstructing and predicting sea-levels. A significant field and practical element will include an investigation of an area of sea-level change (one day fieldtrip), laboratory work on the recovered sediments and a report on the long-term trend of sea-level in the area studied. The course will also cover tsunami, estuaries, saltmarshes, coastal pollution, and approaches to coastal management.

Aims

Study and explain the combined effects of both rapid and incremental processes on coasts

Introduce and apply a new range of field, laboratory and data-handling skills

Understand the science behind the current issues of sea-level change and coastal management

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course unit, you should be able to:

· Design and conduct research in the field of coastal change

· Understand the combined effects of different processes on coastal landforms and sediments

· Consider laboratory and field observations in the context of previous research

· Analyse and present a complex data set

· Critically analyse existing research in the area of coastal processes

Teaching and learning methods

The course unit will be delivered via a combination of lectures, fieldwork, workshops (task-oriented), seminars (reading-based) and laboratory classes. The approximate breakdown, depending on numbers, will be 16 hours of lectures, 1 day or 5 working hours of fieldwork, 3 hours of seminars and workshops, and approximately 6 hours of laboratory work.

Course information, lecture slides and reading (both reading lists and pdf files) will be available in blackboard. Blackboard will also be used to enable data sharing. Links to external websites and video clips will also be available.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

During this course unit, you will be encouraged to develop the following abilities and skills: